7th Grade UBD - Unit 2 - Africa

 People and Their Environment- East Africa’s environment offers deserts in the North and areas of vegetation in the South. The region is unevenly populated.  Government and Economy- The years since independence have been marred by civil wars. Agriculture is the region’s major industry.  Society and Culture- The people’s diverse heritages and ways of farming create many ways of life in East Africa.

East Africa- National Geographic

 Desert land and the Sahel occupy Northern East Africa. In Southern East Africa, rainfall is moderate. Highland areas keep temperatures moderate.  The region has few mineral resources. Most people are farmers.  The region’s people are remarkably diverse. Although growing, the region is unevenly populated.

Key Term Horn of Africa- The easternmost projection of Africa, so called because of its resemblance to a rhinoceros horn.

 East Africa shares the desert, savanna, and the Sahel with West Africa.  Northern Sudan is a desert. The Nile River however, provides Sudan with moisture along its narrow path.  Southern Sudan has the hot and wet climate of equatorial areas.

 The Equator crosses parts of East Africa. The equatorial climate is changed by elevation in the Highlands of Ethiopia and Kenya.

 The changes in elevation allow farmers to grow foods that they typically would not be able to.  Farmers in the highlands can grow wheat, apples, and strawberries.  Such crops normally can only be grown in lands further away from the Equator.

 Unlike other regions of the continent, East Africa has few mineral resources.  Some East African nations have built major businesses based on the region’s extraordinary scenic beauty and the diversity of the animals.

 East Africa is unevenly populated.  Most Africans live in rural areas.  In areas where population is growing rapidly, food production has not been able to keep up with the demand.  Famines also continue to affect the people of East Africa.

Key Term Famine- A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by crop failure, population unbalance, or government policies.

Video- Famine No More

 Tsetse Flies are an enormous health risk in parts of Africa since they can transmit a disease that can affect the central nervous system.  They breed along rivers and streams and are active during the day.

 The Tsetse Fly spreads sleeping sickness among people and cattle, which keeps the population low.

Key Term Tsetse Fly- Tsetse Fly is a type of fly that lives only in Africa, and feeds exclusively on blood.

Video- Death by Tsetse Fly

 Diseases like malaria, cholera, and polio contributed to making multiple generations of people poor in Africa.  This is because when people are debilitated by disease, their children are left to grow up in poverty.

 Conflicts in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan have threatened the stability of the entire region, due to increased violence, weapons, refugees, and lawlessness.

Key Term Genocide- Genocide is the killing of a group of people because of their race, culture, or political ideas.

 In 1994, members of the ethnic majority in the nation of Rwanda murdered as many as 800,000 people, mostly of the Tutsi minority.  The genocide spread throughout the country with staggering speed and brutality, as ordinary citizens were incited to take up arms against their neighbors.

Video- Genocide in Rwanda

 Independence in many East African nations has been followed by civil wars, as rival groups have fought for control.  Throughout the region, farming, animal herding, and plantation agriculture offer work for most people.  Kenya and Tanzania have turned tourism into a highly profitable industry.

 Experimented with:  Agriculture  Herding  Tourism  Industrial Growth

 Many countries in East Africa have created huge wildlife preserves, where elephants, rhinos, lions, and other large game animals can roam freely.  These preserves attract thousands of tourists from all over the world each year.

 While these wildlife reserves make millions of dollars in revenue each year, they take up valuable farming land.  Many goverments are giving local people a share of the profits from tourism to help them invest in their futures.

Key Terms Poaching- Taking game or fish illegally.

Key Terms East African Community (EAC)- The organization has been designed to assist in developing mutual trade, investment, and security in the region.

1. What problems are caused by the Tsetse Fly? 2. What benefits do game parks bring to East Africa? 3. East Africa is famous for its wildlife. Unfortunately, many animals are endangered because of poaching. What is one possible solution? Explain your answer.

1. What problems are caused by the Tsetse Fly?  The Tsetse Fly spreads sleeping sickness among people and cattle, which keeps the population low. 2. What benefits do game parks bring to East Africa?  Tourists from all over the world to come to see the animals, generating millions of dollars of revenue. 3. East Africa is famous for its wildlife. Unfortunately, many animals are endangered because of poaching. What is one possible solution? Explain your answer.  Student answers will vary.

 The rich mix of ethnic heritages, different religious faiths, national origins, and ancient African traditions remains a major influence on ways of life.  Farming, animal herding, and plantation agriculture also influence where and how people live.

 East Africa has few large cities.  Those who have moved away from villages usually work in banking, trade, and tourism.  Such businesses, however, are not major factors in giving the region its character.

 The word coffee comes from the name Kaffa, a province in Southwest Ethiopia, that is believed to be the birthplace of coffee.

Reading Activity- Eyewitness To History 6

1. Where does the word coffee come from? 2. Those who have moved away from villages in East Africa try to find jobs in cities doing what?

1. Where does the word coffee come from?  The word coffee comes from the name Kaffa, a province in Southwest Ethiopia. 2. Those who have moved away from villages in East Africa try to find jobs in cities doing what?  Those who have moved away from villages in East Africa usually work in banking, trade, and tourism.

 What has been the “muddiest” point so far in this lesson? That is, what topic remains the least clear to you? (4 minutes)

 Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)